Door-opener.



No. 836,607. PATENTED NOV. 20, ,1906.

J. & L. REINERT.

DOOR- OPENER.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 16, lQOG.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1. I

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.No. 836,607. PATENTED NOV. 20, 1906.

I J. & L. REINERT.

DOOR OPENER.

APPLICATION PILEDJ'UNE 16, 1906.

THL' NORRIS PETERS cm, wnsllmsrcn, n c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

DOOR-OPENER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 20, 1906.

Application filed June 16, 1906. $e1'ial No. 322,083.

To It whom it 'II'Z/LI/Z/ concern:

Be it known that we, JACOB REINERT and Louis REINERT, citizens of the United States, residing at Allegheny, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented new and useful Improvements in Door-Openers, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates generally to an improvement in automatic door-openers, and primarily to an electrically-controlled apparatus designed upon the manual closing of the circuit to initially open the door to a relatively slight degree.

The main object of the present invention is the production of an apparatus which upon initial operation Will move the door to a slightly-open position, the construction providing for the resetting of the apparatus upon removal of the door to fully-open position under the manual operation of the'person entering.

Another object of the invention is the production of means whereby closing of a circuit will automatically move the door into a slightly-open position and maintain it in such position against the tension of any form of door-closing mechanism.

WVith the above objects in view the invention consists in certain details of construction and combinations of parts, which will first be described in the following specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective of the upper portion of the door and frame, illustrating the application of my improved opening device thereto, the parts being shown in normal or inoperative position. Fig. 2 is a similar view with the parts shown in operative position and the door in the initially-opened relation induced by the operation of the mechanism. Fig. 3 is a perspective of the casing for the mechanism viewed from beneath. Fig. 41 is a plan of the casing with the hinged cover removed, the parts being shown in inactive position. Fig. 5 is a section on line 5 5 of Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a similar view with the parts shown in operative position. Fig. 7 is a bottom perspective of the resetting-lever.

Referring particularly to the drawings, my improved door-opening mechanism is designed for use in connection with a door 1, mounted for swinging movement in the usual casing 2, any desired means, as springhinges or the like, being preferably provided is preferably supported immediately above and adjacent the free edge of the door, and the forward wall of the casing is preferably in the form of a cover 5, hinged to the casing at one end and adapted for engage-' ment by a bolt 6 of a lock 7, disposed within the casing at the opposite end, whereby access to the interior of the casing is provided, though the parts are ordinarily locked against unauthorized inspection by the use of the lock 7.

Arranged within and supported upon the bottom of the casing is an electromagnet 8 in circuit with conductors 9 and 10, leading to the usual push-button, so that upon the closing of the circuit upon operation of said button the electromagnet 8 will be energized. The armature 11 for the electromagnet is pivotally supported from the rear wall of the casing, as at 12, being normally held in inoperative or elevated position through the me dium of a spring 13, hearing against said armature and the lower wall of the casing. The side of the armature adjacent the lock 7 is provided adjacent the forward or free end with a laterally-extending projection 14 for a purpose hereinafter described, said projection being formed on the upper side at a point approximately midway its length with a vertical extension or lug 15, the rear wall of which curves rearwardly and downwardly into a plane coincident with the lower surface of the armature, as at, 16. An operating-shaft 17 isv rotatably supported in the upper and lower casing-walls at the end of the casing opposite the lock, said shaft being mounted in suitable bearings and projecting beyond the respective upper and lower casing-walls, as clearly shown in Fig. 4. The shaft 17 is normally driven in a determinate direction through the medium of a coil-spring 18, which is of substantial strength and is preferably coiled about the shaft throughout the length of the latter, being terminally secured, respectively, to one wall of the casing and the bolt 17.

19 represents a latch member, preferably of the shape illustrated, having a comparatively wide lower end and a narrow or reduced upper end. The latch member is pivotally supported between ears 20, secured to the lower wall of the casing between the electromagnet and the lock, said latch being of a length to normally project at the lower end through an opening 21 in the bottom wall of the casing. The upper'end of latch extends approximately to the plane of the armature when in normal position, being provided with a laterally-extending pin 22, designed in the normal position of the parts to engage forward of the lug 15 in the armature. The enlarged lower portion of the latch is provided near the upper edge with a laterallyextending pin 23, upon which is arranged to bear the free end of a leaf-spring 24, secured at the opposite end to the lower wall of the casing. In normal position, with the pin 22 in engagement forward of the lug 15, the spring 24 is under tension, with the effect to move the latch in a rearward direction upon disengagement of said pin and lug. That portion of the latch normally projected beyond the lower surface of the casing through the opening 21 is formed witha notch or recess 25, opening through the lower free edge of the latch, as clearly shown in Fig. 5. On the lower end of the shaft 17, beyond the lower wall of the casing, is arranged a throwlever 26, which is fixedly secured to and moved with the shaft and formed at its relatively forward end with an extension 27, designed to snugly seat in the recess 25 in the latch. The throw-lever is provided intermediate its ends with a plate 28, projecting rearwardly therefrom and carrying at its free or rearward end an operating-stud 29, preferably in the form of a roller movably supported upon a pin fixed in the plate.

The door 1 is provided with an approximately S-shaped bracket 30, designed to be secured to the upper edge of the door in the path of movement of the roller 29, so that upon the movement of the throw-lever, as hereinafter described, the roller 29 will contact with the upper end of the bracket and move the door upon its hinge connection,

A resetting-arm 31 is fixedly secured to the upper projecting end of the shaft 17, said arm being connected to the shaft at such an angle to the throw-lever that when said lever is in normal position within the recess of the latch the resetting-arm is disposed at an angle to the longitudinal plane of the casing with its free end extending forward beyond the forward wall of the casing, as will be clear from Fig. 1 of the drawings. The resettingarm is provided at its free end with an anglelink 32, in the depending relatively forward terminal of which is secured one end of an adjusting-rod 33, normally disposed to project in alinement with the door-casing and above the upper edge of the door.

To the door-frame in alinement with the casing 3 is secured a bracket 34, having spaced parallel ears 35, in which is mounted a rod 36. Secured upon the upper end of this rod is an arm 37, corresponding in length to the lengthof the resetting-arm and revolubly supporting up on its relatively forward end a bindingpost 38, formed with an opening 40 for the reception of the free end of the rod 33, said post 38 being provided with the usual binding-screw 41 to bear upon and secure the rod 33 in adjusted position relative to the post. On the lower end of the rod 36 is fixedly secured what I term the resetting-lever, preferably formed in two sections 42 and 43, the former being fixedly secured to the lower end of the rod and the latter having pivotal connection with the free end of the section 42 through the medium of a pivot pin 44. The relatively rear end of the section 43 is reduced in width to provide a rearwardlyextending lug 45, designed in movement of the section 43 in one direction to engage a pin 46, depending from the forward end of the section 42, and thereby secure the sections in fixed relation for service as a single unbroken. lever. The movement of the section 43 in the opposite direction, however, is free and uninterrupted, such movement being against the tension of a spring 47, coiled about the pivot-pin 44, with its respective terminals en.- gaging the sections 42 and 43 of the lever. A resetting-bracket 48 is secured to the upper edge of the door in such position relative to the resetting-lever that the opening movement of the door causes a roller-stud 49, projecting from the bracket 48, to contact with the sec tion 43 of the resetting-lever. The described connection between the sections 42 and 43 of the resetting-lever is such that the opening movement of the door will tend to move the section 43 of the lever to cause engagement,

between the projection 45 and pin 46, thereby operating the lever as a whole, while the reverse or closing movement of the door will. move the sections 43 of the lever independently of the section 42, whereby to provide for returning the door to closing position -without affecting the resetting-lever as a to cause the roller-stud 29 to engage the bracket 30, fixed on the door.

In the normal position of the parts with the door closed under the tension of any of the usual door-closing means the latch 19 is disposed in vertical position, with the pin 22 resting forward of and in-contact with the lug 15 of thearmature, thus holding the armature slightly spaced from the electromagnets and in position to put the spring 13 under tension. In this position of the parts the extension 27 of the throw-lever is held in the recess 25 of the latch, so that the spring 17 is also under tension.

In operation the circuit through the electromagnets is closed by any desired form of manually-operated closing means, with the effect to attract the armature 11, causing a relatively downward movement of the free end thereof. This movement of the armature releases the latch, and the latter, under the influence of the spring 24, is operated to move its upper end in the rearward direction, thus moving the lower or exposed end in a forward direction. The described movement of the latch, under the influence of th spring, is preferably gained by disposing the spring-pin 23 rearwardly beyond and out of vertical alinement with the pivot 20 of the latch. The forward movement of the ex posed or recessed end of the latch releases the throw-lever, permitting the spring 18 to move the shaft 17 to project the free end of the lever in a relatively forward direction. This movement of the throw-lever will by contact of the stud 29 with the door-bracket 30 initially open the door to a slight extent and hold said. door in such position against the influence of the door-closing means. The described movement of the shaft 17 also moves the throw-arm 31 in the same direction, with the effect to move the rese 'ing-le ver or the section 43 thereof into contact with the roller-stud 49 of the door-bracket. The door is now in a slightly-open position, and the person desiring entrance pushes upon the door in the usual way to open it to the desired extent. This movement of the door swings the resetting-lever in a direction cpposite to its initial movement, the length of the parts being such that the engagement of the roller-stud 49 with the resetting-lever will continue until the movement of said lever is sufficient to return the throw-arm 26 to the normal position. As the throw-arm returns to normal position the extension 27 thereof will ride against the relatively rear wall of the recess 25 in the exposed end of the latch, it being understood that the operative movement of the latch is such as to withdraw the relatively forward wall of the recess within the opening in the casing, thereby projecting the relatively rear wall of said recess into an inclined position relative to the lower wall of the casing to receive the extension 27 of the throw-lever, as will be clear from Fig. 6 of the drawings. As the throw-lever returns to normal position the latch 19 will be forced to the vertical or initial position under the described engagement of the extension of the throw-lever with the recess of the latch. As

the latch returns to normal position the pin 22 thereof will ride up the inclined wall 16 of the armature projection 14 and over and forward of the lug 15, this movement of the latch serving, of course, to return the armature to normal position. The parts are thus reset for the next operation, it being understood that the return movement of the door in closing after the entrance of the person will not effect the normal position of the resettinglever, as the contact of the roller-stud 49 with the section 43 of said lever will independ ently swing said section and permit free passing of the stud, the spring 47 returning the section 43 to normal position.

From the above description it will be evident that the present invention provides for initially opening the door to a slight degree, and thereby inviting the attention of a person desiring entrance to the fact that the door is open, the further opening of the door under the manual operation of the person serving to automatically reset the parts in position for a second operation. The device is thus automatically operated. and automatically reset, so that in conjunction. with a self-closing means for the door no attention whatever is required, as the apparatus is always in position for the initial opening operation and the door, except when being manually operated, is always in closed position relative to the frame.

is to be understood that the manuallyoperated circuit-closer is to be arranged at any desired. portion of the building. For example, in the use of the invention in apartment-sinuses any number of circuit-closers may be arranged in the separate apartments, so that the door may be opened by any of the occupants from their respective apartments. The circuit-closer may, if desired, be arranged so as to be operated initially by the person desi entrance, in which event the circuitcloser may be in the form of a push-button, or the normally spaced contacts of said. closer may be arranged to be brought into engagement by the weight of a person on a door-mat or other similar article.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is" l. The combination with a door, of means for initially opening the door to a predetermined extent, and means for resetting the opening means on the further opening of the door.

2. The combination with a door, of means for initially opening the door to a predetermined extent, and means automatically op erated in the manual opening of the door beyond said predetermined extent to reset the initial opening means.

3. The combination with a door, of a throw-lever arranged for operative engage ment with the door, means for causing a predetermined movement of the throwlever, a

IOC

resetting-lever supported above the door and operated'in the opening movement of the door, and a connection between the resettinglever and the throw-lever to return the latter to normal position in the operation of the former.

4. The combination with a door, of a throw-lever adapted in operation to engage the door, means for locking the throw-lever 1n inoperat ve position, means for operating the locking means to release the throw-lever, and a resetting-lever connected with the throw-lever and adapted to be operated in the opening movement of the door to return the throw-lever within the influence of the locking means.

5. The combination with a door, of a throw-lever mounted above the door and adapted in operation to move the door a predetermined distance, a locking means for normally holding the throw-lever in inoperative position, electricallyoperated means for actuating the locking means to release the throw-lever, and a resetting-lever connected with the. throw-lever and operated in the opening movement of the door to return the throw-lever within the influence of the locking means.

6. The combination with a door, of a casing supported above the door, anelectromagnet included in a normally open circuit mounted in the casing, an armature for the magnet hinged to the casing, a latch pivotally supported by the casing and normally engaging the armature, a shaft rotatably supported 1n the casing, a throw-lever carriedby the lower end of said lever engaging the latch when in normal position, and a resetting-lever supported. above the door and operated in the opening movement of the door, and a connection between said lever and the shaft,

whereby operation of the resetting-lever will return the throw-lever within the influence of the latch.

7. The combination of a door, of an opening mechanism therefor comprising a casing, a shaft rotatably supported within the casing, a spring for operating the shaft in one direction, a throw-lever carried on the lower end of the shaft and adapted in operation to engage the door, a latch pivotally supported within the casing and having an extension projecting beyond the casing in the path of the throw-lever, said latch extension being formed with a recess to receive the free end of the throw-lever, an electromagnet mounted within the casing, an armature adapted to engage the latch and hold the sameinlocking relation to the throw-lever, and means for energizing the electromagnet to attract the armature and release the latch.

8. The combination with a door, of an opening mechanism therefor comprising a casing,'a shaft rotatably supported withm the casing, a spring for operating the shaft in one direction, a throw-lever carried onthe lower end of the shaft and adapted in operation to engage the door, a latch pivotally supported within the casing and having an eX tension projecting beyond the casing in the path of the throw-lever, said latch extension being formed with a recess to receive thefree end of the throw-lever, an electromagnet mounted within the casing, an armature adapted to engage the latch and hold the same in locking relation to the throw-lever, means for energizing the electromagnet to attract the armature and release the latch, a resetting-lever pivotally supported above the door and connected with the shaft, and means carried by the door to engage and operate the resetting-lever in the opening movement of the door.

Intestimony whereof we affix our signatures in presence of two witnesses.

JACOB REINERT. LOUIS REINERT. -Witnes ses:

ELMER E. NEELY, FRANK WEAVER. 

